5 Things You Have to Do To Protect Your Identity
When most of us hear about identity theft, we always think it is something that happens to other people and that we aren't really at risk. The truth is, every year, thousands of people just like you end up dealing with identity theft and it is a battle that can last for years. Luckily, there are five things you can do to help lower your chances of ever becoming a victim of identity theft.
Lock down your home computer
More and more of us are paying bills, checking our credit card statements and performing business online. Thanks to the tireless efforts of some of the biggest computer companies in the world, this practice is essentially safe. Problems occur when prying eyes get access to your computer without your knowledge or consent. There are several things you can do to limit access to your computer at home and at work. Use the password feature to make a password only you would know. You can also make sure you empty your cache every time you close your browser.
Keep your antivirus solution up to date
If you are one of those people who claim to not know much about computers, yet you use yours to store personal information, you had better become a fast learner. Hackers are very difficult to discourage, and if you don't take the time to keep your antivirus and antispyware programs up to date, you are inviting trouble. If you aren't sure how to run these programs or how to keep them in pristine condition, ask someone who does. Your identity could be riding on it.
Have basic Internet awareness
While the Internet may still be a new place for some people, the truth is that it has been in most households now for over a decade, which means that it is time to take off the blinders and learn where it is safe to shop and where it isn't. Online superstores like Amazon spend millions of dollars per year keeping their site free of hackers and their customer information secure. It is nice to shop at independent online retailers, but you are taking your identity into your own hands every time you do so. Think twice before you give out personal information and credit card numbers online.
Understanding your inbox is another great way to protect yourself. When you receive emails from individuals or companies you're unsure of, don't click on that unsubscribe link. It lets spammers know that someone is at the other end of the email address, and the mail will keep coming. Just delete the message and block the sender in your options panel.
Be cautious about personal information in public
Although this practice seems to be getting rarer with every passing year, some retailers still ask you for your phone number before making a purchase. Others ask you to fill out a full form just to make a return. Every time you give out your personal information, it heightens the chances of that information being misused or just plain stolen. Tell retailers you aren't comfortable giving that information out and they will likely make other arrangements for you.
Be cautious at home
We know we can trust our spouses to keep our personal information safe and we can trust our kids to not tell people our social security number, but what about our kids' friends or the cable repair guy? We usually don't think of protecting our identity in our own home, but it helps to remain vigilant at all times. When you receive important documents in the mail, read them and put them away in the same day. You never know what might happen when you leave the room.
|
